Parker’s Premier League championship medal is only a replica supplied by his old club because he did not play enough games to qualify for a real one when they lifted the trophy, in 2005, under Jose Mourinho.

He does not even know where it is these days, because he just did not feel part of that triumph.

That’s why a winners’ medal in the Europa League would mean so much to him – and why he will be giving everything in the quarter-finals against Basel tonight to help make that dream come true.

Some people say the Europa League is just a consolation prize. Not Parker.

The England midfielder said: “It’s fair to say I didn’t feel part of it at Chelsea. I was there when they won the league, and the Carling Cup as well, so I was around it.

“I saw what it’s about, what those days do for the fans, for your family. A winners’ medal is something your family can all enjoy as well. It’s something to remember.

“I did get a medal for winning the league with Chelsea. But there were four of us who didn’t play enough games to get an official one and the club got replica medals made for us instead.

"I wouldn’t even know where it is now, though. I wouldn’t have a clue. It says a lot I suppose, doesn’t it?

“For the Carling Cup one, I played in a few games before the final and then I got injured. That was the one where I just thought, ‘I ­contributed quite a bit here’.

“But I still didn’t really feel at the bottom of my heart that I had made enough of a contribution to it. I was injured but I went along anyway to the final.

“Would a Europa League medal mean more than the ones I won at Chelsea?

“Yes, I think it probably would – and it would have to go on the fireplace, wouldn’t it? I’m sure I would treasure that a little bit more.

“It’s probably a lesson to other English clubs, how seriously we’ve taken it. It’s a big competition, and there are big teams in it. If you’ve come away at the end of the season and you’ve won this competition, you’ve done well.

“You deserve a lot of credit, as a squad and as a team to achieve that – because it’s difficult.”

Spurs still have some work to do to get to the final as ­Basel are a club with Champions League pedigree.

However, Parker feels they are ­beginning to show the sort of winning mentality that was always a hallmark of those famous Chelsea teams under Mourinho.

Spurs have been able to grind out wins this season in a way they simply failed to last time around, when Arsenal roared back to pip them to the last Champions League spot.

Former West Ham star Parker reckons that is good news for their dream of finishing in the top four and could bode well for the future.

He said: “Winning does become a habit. Football’s about results.

“When I was at Chelsea, we used to grind out results when we weren’t playing well. You just know how to get a result. And that’s probably where we need to get to.

“Sometimes when a team like ­Chelsea is playing someone at the bottom of the league, you realise it’s not worth asking the result. You just know it’s a guaranteed win.

“I suppose that is where we need to get to – but I think we are close.

“There’s a different side to us which I think we have showed this year, and that’s what’s pleasing.

“Everyone is expecting us to fail, and we need to use that as players.

“We need to see that every question is about how we crumbled last year. I think we’re changing that.

“The message in the ­changing room is not to do it again, let’s not let these ­people ­question us again. Even our fans, maybe, there’s a slight doubt there.

“We need to prove that we’re not going to do that and we’re going to maintain where we are and have a successful ­season.”